Soviet Art

The works of students of the Leningrad Secondary Art School. Alexey Eryomin. The squad to Budyonny. Oil. 1938

Leningrad Secondary Art School (now St. Petersburg State Academic Art Lyceum of BV Ioganson of the Russian Academy of Arts) was the first in the USSR specialized secondary art school for gifted children. Creation of the first in the country’s secondary art school was a clear indication of the party cares about the future of the Soviet culture. This school was needed then (and today too) to provide a strong realist traditions in Soviet art. To change a decent education – those who will carry on in their creations memory of the people. Each graduated from Leningrad Art School carries the torch of high traditions of national art coming from the ancient times, from the beginning of the Russian Academy. Look at the pictures of school pupils. What distinguishes them? First of all, the depth of feelings, understanding of life, professional skills. After all, they are made by teenagers undoubtedly talented, but many have proven this throughout their further creative life.
Read more »

Soviet artists for Peace. USSR Poster by E.A. Kazhdan (Moscow). USSR – for negotiating, for limiting any weapons. 1981. Tempera on paper

Peace. Every day and hour in hundreds of languages ​​pronounce that word across the globe. For many in the Soviet Union, especially for young people and kids, this concept was something taken for granted everyday, existing, seemingly forever. The same as Mom and Dad, kindergarten, school, factory, or farm building, museum or theater. And ask any boy or girl: what Peace is? – He would probably say, when there is no war. Seniors, those who are now respectfully and lovingly called veterans, know and understand what peace on earth is. They are fully able to evaluate the meaning of the content of the word, because they remember what war is. Past through fierce battles and through unimaginable for human horrors of the Nazi death camps can definitely answer. Peace – is primarily a love for the country: the land where you were born and live in, and the air that you breathe, your people, their joys and sorrows, language and culture.
Read more »

Every revolution is only worth anything unless it can defend itself. Vladimir Lenin. In a world of wise thoughts USSR matchbox labels. Sloboda match factory “Belka”. 1967

Great Stanislavsky wrote that thoughts were feelings originally. Therefore, when we read the thoughts and sayings of great people, first of all we get acquainted with their feelings, and relate with ours. Thought reaches its maximum effect at a time when it is laconic. It is practically impossible not to understand the meaning, enclosed in two or three sentences. Such thoughts, or words of wisdom came in a series of the USSR match labels produced at Sloboda match factory “Belka”, match factory Balabanovo, Kaluga factory Giant, and the Kirov factory Red Star. Quotes in the world without the Internet and mobile communications served as auto-motivators. Wise thoughts USSR matchbox labels were always at hand – on a matchbox. These wise thoughts taught Soviet people kindness, diligence, honesty, good attitude towards others and life.
Read more »

June of 1941. Soviet painter Boris Ugarov (1922 – 1991)

“Art today – not only the scope of creativity, but also a field of intense ideological struggle” – these words belong to the Soviet painter Boris Ugarov. The life and career of Ugarov connected to the city on the Neva, and his pedagogical talent and expertise of more than 30 years were given to the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin. Boris S. Ugarov – one of the leading artists of the country, author of the famous epic canvases devoted to turning, the key moments of life of the USSR. Boris Sergeyevich Ugarov (1922 – 1991) – Ph.D., teacher, professor, President of the USSR Academy of Arts (1983-1991). Academician of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1978, Corresponding Member of 1973), People’s Artist of the USSR (1982), laureate of USSR State Prize (1985) and the RSFSR State Prize of Repin (1976). Member of the CPSU since 1983.
Read more »

Soviet artist Vasily Svarog (5 March 1883 – 31 December 1946). 1st of May. Watercolor. 1937

Soviet artist Vasily Svarog, real name Vasily Semyonovich Korochkin (5 March 1883 – 31 December 1946), was born in the city of Staraya Russa of Novgorod province (now the Novgorod region) in a peasant family. Aged two, he lost his father, and his mother was engaged in education of children. The desire to draw appeared in the early age. Noticing it, his art teacher Chistyakov collected money among residents of the city Staraya Russa so that the talented child could continue his art education. In 1896, at the age of thirteen, Vasily Semenovich enters the Central School of Technical Drawing of Stieglitz in St. Petersburg, and four years later he successfully completes it. His pseudonym “Svarog” was given to him during the school years.
Read more »

Painting by Soviet artist Alexandr Gerasimov (1881-1963). “I.V. Stalin and K.E. Voroshilov in the Kremlin”. 1938. The State Tretyakov Gallery

The ideological meaning of a huge canvas “I. Stalin and K. Voroshilov in the Kremlin” had to be disclosed clearly and intelligibly to every Soviet citizen. The forward-gaze of Stalin and Voroshilov read strength and unbending will of the Bolshevik – each spectator could see that the guard of the Soviet people are creative socialist labor party, the Soviet government and tested in battle, the Red Army. The ideological plan initially emphasized even verbally: the picture was called “On guard of peace.” Peaceful work in the picture is actually present. Moscow is built, as well as the whole country, and is growing Soviet Fatherland. For the painting, Alexandr Gerasimov got Stalin Prize in 1941. Soviet artist Alexandr Gerasimov (1881-1963) – architect and art theorist, teacher, professor, Doctor of Arts (1951), the first president of the USSR Academy of Arts in 1947-1957, respectively, Academician of the USSR Academy of Arts (1947), People’s Artist of the USSR (1943). Winner of four Stalin Prizes (1941, 1943, 1946, 1949). Member of the CPSU (b) since 1950.
Read more »

Soviet photographer Mikhail Dashevsky. At the exhibition. 1980s, Moscow

Soviet photographer Mikhail Dashevsky is the author of series of photographs which he took during sad days of perestroika, and collapse of the great state – the USSR. A civil engineer by profession, doctor of technical sciences, Mikhail Aronovich Dashevsky can’t be called professional photographer in a strict sense of the term. Mikhail Aronovich Dashevsky was born in 1935 in Moscow. In 1953 entered the Moscow Engineering and Construction Institute, from which he graduated in 1958. It was a time of change: the death of Stalin and Beria’s execution, XX Party Congress with the revelations, the International youth festival – life was changing fast. After graduation he worked briefly at the construction of the Stalingrad and Bratsk hydroelectric power stations, and traveled around the country.
Read more »